Wegovy Oral Tablet

Starter is the first dose-escalation phase, when your provider begins at a low dose and raises it step by step to help your body adjust. Maintenance is ongoing treatment at the dose your provider has settled on, with regular check-ins on weight trend and side effects. A once-daily semaglutide tablet for people who prefer to avoid injections. It is used alongside nutrition, activity and behavior changes for long-term weight management.

Semaglutide mimics GLP-1, a hormone your gut releases after eating. It acts on GLP-1 receptors in the brain areas that control hunger and fullness, so you tend to feel full sooner and think about food less.

It also slows how quickly the stomach empties and helps the pancreas release insulin when blood sugar is high. Because it lasts about a week in the body, it is given once weekly.

1. Starter programFirst phase of treatment. Expect side effects, if any, to be most noticeable early and after each dose increase.
2. Maintenance programA steady dose. Providers commonly reassess progress every few months and decide whether to continue.
3. First weeksAppetite changes, if any, often start gradually. Stomach side effects are most common early and after dose increases.
4. Months 1 to 3The dose is typically increased stepwise, about every 30 days, as tolerated.
5. Around 3 to 6 monthsProviders commonly reassess weight trend and tolerability.
6. After stoppingWeight often returns after stopping, so benefits depend on continued treatment.

Results vary from person to person. Your provider decides whether and how long to continue.

The Wegovy tablet label starts at 1.5 mg once daily for 30 days, then increases every 30 days to 4 mg, 9 mg and a maintenance dose of 25 mg. Your provider decides your dose and pace.

• Take on an empty stomach first thing in the morning with no more than 4 ounces of plain water, then wait at least 30 minutes before eating, drinking or taking other medicines.
• Swallow the tablet whole. Do not split, crush or chew it.
• Your provider decides your dose and how fast to increase it.

Your prescription label and provider instructions always take priority over this general information. Do not change your dose or stop without talking to your provider.

• An initial review of your weight history, medical conditions, current medications and family history of thyroid cancer.
• Baseline labs may be ordered, for example blood sugar (A1c), kidney function or lipids, depending on your history.
• Regular check-ins during dose increases to review side effects, weight trend, hydration and appetite.
• People with diabetes may need closer blood sugar monitoring, and a review of retinopathy history.
• The dose may be held, lowered or stopped if side effects are hard to tolerate or results are not meaningful after a fair trial.

Lab tests and follow-up visits are not included in the medication price unless your plan says so. Your provider will tell you what is needed.

• Wegovy injection

  Once-weekly; the form used in the major weight-loss and cardiovascular trials.

• Foundayo (orforglipron)

  A different once-daily oral GLP-1 tablet that can be taken at any time of day, with or without food.

• Zepbound

  Weekly dual-receptor injection.